Choosing Actions

On the Bill Search page, the Actions folder allows you to search for bills that have reached a particular point in the legislative process.

Selecting an Action

1. Click the Action(s) link.  The Actions dialog box displays.  

NOTE:  You can select up to 50 actions.

2. Filter the actions displayed by using the Chamber and Keyword fields:

1. • Chamber:  Click the House, Senate, Executive, or All check box. The actions displayed change immediately.  

NOTE:  All is the default.

1. • Type:  Use the drop-down list to narrow the actions displayed.  The actions change when a selection is made from the list.

   • Category:  Use the drop-down list to choose a category that displays specific actions.  All the actions associated with the selected category display and are selected.  

   • Keyword:  Enter a word or phrase to display all actions that contain the text, and click OK to change the actions displayed.  All actions that contain the text anywhere in the description display.  For example, if you type gen, the results include a list of actions that have the letters gen as part of the action, such as Governor submitted as emergency or Placed on General State Calendar  or Referred to General Investigating, etc.

NOTE:  You can also enter the action in the Search field or scroll to the action.

3. Double-click an action to move it to the Selected column.

TIP:  To make multiple selections, press the Ctrl key and click the options you want to select.  Press the Enter key.

NOTE:  Double-click an action in the Selected column to remove the action.

4. Click OK.  The selected actions display in the Actions area.

5. Click the And or Or radio button to further narrow or expand your search:

NOTE:  Or is the default.

1. • Or:  Expands the search results.  Choose Or to search for bills that contain any one of the actions you select.

   • And:  Narrows the search results.  Choose And to search for bills that contain all of the actions you select.

6. Click the Last Action Only radio buttons to choose:

1. • Yes:  Choose Yes if you want to limit the actions in your search results to the last (most recent) action completed.  

NOTE:  When choosing Yes, the last action must be significant to return results.

1. • No:  Choose No if you wish to include all of a bill’s actions in your search results.

7. Use the Action Date fields if you want to search for Actions on a specific date or within a date range:

   • On:  Enter or choose a specific date from the calendar drop-down list.

NOTE:  Click the Today check box to display results that are scheduled to occur today.  Click the Tomorrow check box to display results that are scheduled to occur tomorrow.

7. • From and To:  Enter or choose a date from the calendar drop-down list.  

NOTE:  Click the Reset button to clear the criteria in the Actions folder.